Device for closing bags

ABSTRACT

The specification discloses an apparatus for gathering the necks of bags, such as plastic bags, and for applying a bendable closure member to the gathered neck. The closure member is cut off from a strip of material and is received in a device that moves in a circulatory path so that during one part of its travel it follows the bags during movement thereof. The device prebends the closure member and applies it to the gathered neck of the bag and clenches the closure member about the neck, all during continued movement of the bag.

United States Patent [121 Meyer [451 June 26, 1973 DEVICE FOR CLOSING BAGS [75] Inventor: Erich Meyer, Gailenkirchen,

Germany [73] 'Assignee: Optima-Maschinenlabrlk Iuhaber Dr. Max Buhler, Schwabisch-l-lall, Germany [22] Filed: July 28, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 166,722

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 29, 1970 Germany P 20 37 689.0

[52] US. Cl. 53/112 B, 53/138 A [51] Int. Cl 1365b 31/04 [58] Field of Search 53/112 B, 138 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Russell et al 53/138 A X 3,368,322 2/1968 Yasui 53/138 A Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee Attorney-Walter Becker [57] ABSTRACT The specification discloses an apparatus for gathering the necks of bags, such as plastic bags, and for applying a bendable closure member to the gathered neck. The closure member is cut off from a strip of material and is received in a device that moves in a circulatory path so that during one part of its travel it follows the bags during movement thereof. The device prebends the closure member and applies it to the gathered neck of the bag and clenches the closure member about the neck, all during continued movement of the bag.

20 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENIEUmzs ma Wren/0r.-

PATENTEU JUN 2 61973 SNEEI'HIS lnrm/ar: y W8 8 PAIENTtIDJum 1913 3. 740.921

sum 5 or 5 lllllllllll 75 1 DEVICE FOR CLOSING BAGS The present invention relates to a device for closing the neck of filled bags by means of a clip comprising a paper band or a band of plastic material with two wire inserts or with a flexible metallic band, while the device comprises conveying means for the movement of the bags through a gathering and a closing zone. In the closing zone there is provided a bending device for the clip to be bent which clip is preferably of a C-shape. With devices of this type, the gathering zone and the closing zone are in most instances formed by a single, for the most part common zone.

It is an object of the present invention so to design a device of the above described type that a simple structure and a safe closing of the bag will be obtained while the closing process can be carried out during a continuous movement of the bags.

This object and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 represents a section taken along the line II II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section approximately taken along the line III III of FIG. I, but with the device occupying a different position.

FIG. 4 is a partially sectioned cutout of FIG. 1 with the device still in another position.

FIG. 5 shows the cutout of FIG. 4 with-the device occupying the position shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a further cutout of FIG. 1 with the device occupying still another position.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the device according to FIG.

present FIG. 8 is a cutout of FIG. 1 with the device occupying still another position.

FIG. 9 is a section taken along FIG. 1.

The device according to the present invention for closing the neck of filled bags by means of a clip as outlined above is characterized primarily in that the bending device is approximatelyin the direction of movement of the bags movably mounted in the closing zone and is driven together with the respective bag to be closed. Thus, the bending device will at a certain point, for instance at the start of the closing zone, take over the respective bag passing through and will then by applying the clip to the gathered neck of the bag move together with the latter and will then return to the first mentioned point for taking over the next oncoming bag.

In ,this connection it is particularly expedient so to design the device that the bending device is with a circulatory holding means moved preferably in a translatory manner so that a very uniform, quiet and easily controlled movement of the device can be obtained.

In order to permit the manufacture of the clips in a simple manner from sections of a band, there is within the range of movement of the bending device, preferably of a bending mouth connected to the carrier, provided the exit of a clip band feeding mechanism while in particular on the bending device there is provided a the line 1x IX of cutting edge which together with the cutting edge in the region of the exit of the clip band feeding mechanism forms a pair of shearsso that also by this movement of the bending device itself the shearing movement for shearing off the clip band will be obtained.

The clip may in a short time be prebent to a U-shape, for instance by providing a prebending nose in the region of the exit of the clip band feeding mechanism, especially on a stationary part of the device. The bending mouth will during its movement in the region of the exit of the clip band feeding mechanism extend over the prebending nose while a clip band is interposed so that in view of the for instance circulatory movement of the bending device, the bending of the clip will be effected directly in the region of the exit of the clip band feeding mechanism. It is particularly expedient so to design the device that the prebending nose is approximately in the direction of movement of the bending mouth movably arranged and preferably is pivotable about an axis which is parallel to the axis of movement of the bending device, and is under the influence of a return force so that during the prebending operation the prebending nose will move together with the bending mouth and will then return to its starting position for carrying out the next following cycle. In order to permit an alternate withdrawal of the prebending nose and movement of the latter in the path of movement of the bending device, the prebending nose is preferably cam-controlled and is movable transverse to the plane of movement of the bending device.

According to a particularly simple embodiment of the invention, the prebending nose is provided at the end of a lever arm which is mounted for pivoting about an axis which is parallel to the axis of movement of the bending device and/or is pivotable about an axis which is at a right angle with regard to the plane of movement.

According to a simple embodiment of the invention, the cam section for the bending ram or die and the prebending nose are driven in common and are arranged on a common shaft while preferably the cam for the bending ram is formed by a circumferential cam surface and/or the cam for the prebending nose is formed by an end face cam surface.

A particularly firm closing of the bag will be assured when the bending ram has located opposite thereto a bending matrix which at least in the range of the closing zone moves together with the bending ram. If the bending matrix is mounted on the cam-controlled pivotable lever the axis of which is stationarily arranged on the device, it will be assured that, while the structure is rather simple, the gathered bag neck will move safely between the bending ram and the bending matrix.

In order to assure a safe gathering of the neck of the bag, within the gathering zone there is movably mounted at least one gathering member for movement in the direction of movement of the bag, the gathering member being driven soas to move together with the respective bag to be closed. The gathering member may in a simple manner he movably mounted on a preferably oval circumferential path, formed by an endless chain drive or the like, in such a way that reciprocatory movements will be avoided. If the gathering member is driven at a speed which is higher than the feeding speed of the bag, the neck of the bag may, in spite of the bag continuing its movement, be gathered from the rear side thereof when viewed in the direction of movement. In order to assure that the gathering member after completed gathering operation can be passed by the neck of the bag without touching the same, the gathering memberis so arranged that by means of a cam forming a control device it can be moved out of the path of movement of the neck of the bag.

It is also advantageous, within the range of the gathering zone for the moving up of the neck of the bag to be gathered, to provide a gathering counter member which is movably mounted in the direction of movement of the bag and is driven together with the respective bag to be closed so that the bag can be gathered also from its front side when viewed in the direction of its movement. The gathering member will during the gathering of the neck of the bag be at a standstill and will thereupon move at the feeding speed or a higher speed than the bag. In this connection it can be obtained that the neck of the bag will be gathered precisely symmetrically with regard to the central longitudinal plane of the bag. Also the gathering counter member is expediently so arranged that by means of a control device it is movable out of the path of movement of the neck of the bag.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the bending matrix is so located on the gathering counter member, preferably between two jaws of the gathering counter member, that one and the same control device can be used for the movement of the gathering counter member as well as for the movement of the bending matrix.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the device illustrated therein comprises a support in the form of a plate 1 for the device while conveying means 2 are provided which extend horizontally and parallel to the vertical supporting plate 1, the conveying means according to the specific showing in the drawing being formed by two circulating belts 3, 4. The belts 3, 4 have those sections 5, 6 which face each other arranged directly one above the other while the sections 5, 6 at the inlet side of the conveying means 2 form an inlet mouth 7 which narrows down in a funnel-like manner. The belts 3, 4 serve for conveying bags 8 which, for instance, may be filled with bread 9 and the necks 10 of which point to the supporting plate 1. Exclusively these necks 10 are over a portion of their length grasped by the belts 3, 4 whereas the remaining portion of the bags 8 is supported in a plane which is formed, for instance, by a further conveyor belt 1 1 and which is offset with regard to the conveying plate of the belts 3, 4 in such a way that the necks 10 of the bags are located approximately at half the height of the remaining portion of-the bags 8.

Between the conveying belts 3, 4 and the supporting plate 1 in slightly spaced relationship to each other there are provided in superimposed arrangement two plate-shaped sliding rails 12, 13 between which slides that end of the neck of the bag which protrudes beyond the belts 3, 4. On that side of the conveyor belts 3, 4 which faces away from the sliding rails l2, 13 there are provided sliding webs 14, 15 which are arranged one above the other and are spaced from the belts 3, 4. The merging area between the neck 10 of the bag and the remaining filled portion of the bag slides between the sliding webs l4, 15. Between the webs 14, 15 and the conveying belts 3, 4 a bent clip 16 is, in conformity with the invention, so arranged on the neck 10 of the bag that it closely surrounds the gathered neck of the bag. The clip 16 is preferably made of paper or synthetic material with an insert of two wires or of a metallic band.

On the supporting plate 1 and above the belts 3, 4 there is provided a bending device 17, whereas below the belts 3, 4 there is provided a gathering device 87. The bending device 17 has a plate-shaped support 18 which by means of two cranks 19, 20 circulates in the manner of a parallelogram construction and is mounted on the supporting plate 1. The axes of rotation of cranks 19, 20, which axes are formed by the shafts 21, 22, are located at the same level above the belts 3, 4. The cranks 19, 20 of the same length are arranged in parallel in such a way that the axes of their bearings 23, 24 on the support 18 are always located at the same level above the belts 3, 4, in other words above the conveying plate. In the front range of the supporting plate 18, when viewed in the feeding direction indicated by the arrow 25, and behind the front bearing 23 there is connected a sliding guiding arrangement 26 which is approximately at a right angle to the feeding plate and is intended for a bending ram or die 27. Ram 27 has that end thereof which is located toward the feeding plane engage a bending mouth 28 from above. Both jaws 29, 30 of the bending mouth 28 are located one behind the other when viewing in the feeding direction indicated by the arrow 25. The two jaws 29, 30 are directly below the guiding means 26 connected to the support 18.

A transverse member 31 is rotatably journalled at the upper end of the bending ram 27. This transverse member 31 has one end thereof provided with a feeler roller 32 which latter has associated therewith a cam disc 33 which is mounted on the supporting plate 1. By means of this cam disc 33, the bending ram 27 is synchronously with the circulation of the support 18 moved downwardly against the thrust of a compression spring 34. During the circulation of the support 18, the feeler roller 32 passes around the cam disc 33 while the movement is by means of a cam 35 so controlled with regard to the rotary movement of the feeler roller 32 that the bending ram 27 will at the right moment carry out its lifting movement.

With reference to the feeding device (arrow 25), behind the bending mouth 28 and on the supporting plate 1 there is provided the exit station 37 of a clip band feeding device 36. The device 36 has a guiding passage 38 for the clip band 39, which guiding passage extends over a quarter of a circle. The passage 38 extends in feeding direction (arrow 25) to the exit station 37. Passage 38 may, for instance, be formed by a groove which is milled into the narrow side of a plate 40, the groove being covered by a rail or strip 41. In the range of that end which pertains to the exit station 37 there is provided a strip 42 which at the exit station 37 forms an upwardly pointing cutting edge 43. This cutting edge 43 together with a cutting edge 44 at the outer lower edge of jaw 30 of the bending mouth 28 forms a pair of shears which means that the cutting edge 34 is so located that the cutting edge 44 during the circulation of the support 18 will, in conformity with FIG. 4, pass by the shears in such a way that that end 45 of the clip band which projects beyond the exit station 37 will be cut off and will be carried along by the bending mouth 28.

The strip 41 is interrupted approximately in the range of the angle bisecting line of the passage 38 while a counter roller 46 of the clip band feeding means 36 ex tends into the interrupted portion from below. The counter roller 46 is provided on an arm 47 of an angle lever pivotally journalled on plate 40. The other arm 48 of the angle lever is connected to the core of a magnetic coil 49. When turning on the device, the magnetic coil 49 is energized and the counter roller 46 is pressed against the clip band 39 in the passage 38. With regard to the clip band 39, the counter roller 46 is located opposite to a transporting roller 50 which latter is provided in the axis of shaft 22. The transporting roller 50 is provided on an arm 52 which is connected to the bearing pivot 51 of bearing 24 and which arm 52 is substantially in alignment with the crank 20.

When viewing FIG. 1 from the front, a prebending lever 53 is provided directly in front of the exit station 37 of the clip band 39, which prebending lever 53 is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 1. The lower end of the prebending lever 53 is provided with a prebending nose 54 extending transverse to the supporting plate 1 and protruding substantially horizontally. Bending nose 54 fits between the jaws 29, of the bending mouth 28. The prebending lever 53 is pivotally journalled in a fork 55 for pivoting about a shaft 56 which is located in a plane extending in the feeding direction,

.indicated by the arrow 25, and substantially at a right angle with regard to the feeding plane. The fork 55 in its turn is on the supporting plate 1 in a bearing 57 pivotable about a shaft 58 which is at a right angle with regard to the said plane. The prebending lever 53 is journalled between the plane of movement of the support 18 and of the supporting plate 1 while prebending lever 53 may be pivotated in such a way that it will be located outside the plane of movement of the support 18. The prebending lever 53 is designed in the manner of a two-arm lever the lever arm of which carries a feeler roller 59 which by the thrust of a spring 60 is pressed against a pot-shaped cam 61. Cam 61 forms a unit with the cam 33.

When the bending mouth 28 during the circulation of the support 18 moves toward the cutting edge 43 of the clip band feeding means 36, the prebending nose 54 is by cam 61 moved into the position of FIG. 3 in which it will be located in the vicinity of the exit station 37 of clip band 39 and below the protruding clip band end 45. During the further course of operation, the cutting edges 43, 44 cut off the protruding clip band end 45. This cut off end may be supported from below by the prebending nose 54. The bending mouth 28 will in the further course of operation move opposite to the prebending nose 54 in conformity with FIG. 5 in downward direction so that the prebending nose 54 enters the bending mouth 28 between the jaws 29, 30, and the cut off clip band end is bent into U-shape. Prior to the prebending nose 54 pressing the U-shaped prebent clip band section against the bottom surface of the clip mouth 28 which bottom surface is formed by the bending ram 27, the prebending nose 54, controlled by cam 61, is under the influence of the spring 60 again retracted so that it can return to its starting position under the influence of the rubber elements about the shaft 58 by that distance by which it had previously been moved in feeding direction (arrow 25) with the bending mouth 28.

The gathering device 87 has two gathering members 62 and one counter gathering member 63. The gathering members 62 are pivotally journalled on a chain drive 64 which is guided by two reversing wheels 65, 66. Each gathering member 62 is designed in the form of a two-arm lever one arm of which, by means of a feeler skid 67, engages a cam 68 in such a way that the respective position of the gathering member 62 is adjusted in conformity with the position of the cam. Cam 68 is formed by the edge of a plate which is located between the slack and taut sections of the chain drive 64. The gathering member 63 is pivotable about a shaft 69 at the end of one arm of an angle lever 70 which is pivotally arranged at 71 below the front reversing wheel 65, shaft 69 being parallel to the feeding plane and substantially at a right angle to the direction of feeding (arrow 25). The other arm 72 of the angle lever is equipped with a feeler roller 73 moving along a cam 74 which cam is arranged on shaft 75 of the reversing wheel 65. The feeler roller 73 is preloaded by a spring 76 toward the cam 74. Furthermore, the gathering counter member 63 is by means of a spring 77 urged toward a starting position which is limited by abutment means. The chain drive 64 moves at a speed which is approximately twice the conveying speed of the bag so that a gathering member 62 will be able to catch up with the pertaining neck of the bag during the movement of the latter and will be able to pregather the neck. The gathered neck of the bag will then move against the gathering member 63 which up to the completion of the gathering operation remains stationary and will subsequently by means of cam 74 approximately in the feeding direction (arrow 25) move, for instance, at a slightly higher speed than the bag so that it will detach itself from the neck of the bag. During the gathering operation, the neck of the bag is located between a nose 78 of the respective gathering member 62 and a corresponding protrusion of the gathering counter member 63. The gathering member 62 and also the gathering counter member 63 are formed by two plate-shaped jaws 79, 80 which are arranged in spaced relationship to each other. Between the jaws 80 of the gathering counter member 63 there is mounted a bending matrix 81, for instance, by means of a pin 82.

As soon as the neck of the bag has been gathered and the bending matrix 81 is located therebelow, the bending mouth 28 engages over this gathered neck of the bag from above during the circulation of the support 18, and the bending ram 27 is by the cam 33 pressed downwardly to such an extent that the prebent clip is closed around the gathered neck of the bag. Controlled by cam 74, the counter gathering member 63 is moved downwardly out of the plane of movement of the bag so that the neck can move over the gathering counter member 63. While the filled bag 8 moves through the gathering zone, the bag 8 will be evacuated, for instance, by means of a suction nozzle 83 provided on the supporting plate 1. The neck of the bag is by the upper sliding rail 12 and through the intervention of the belt section 5 pressed downwardlyv while the sliding rail 12 is by means of springs 84 urged downwardly. Shafts 21,

22 and cams 33, 61 as well as the chain drive 64 are drivingly connected through a common drive, for in stance, a chain drive 85 so that a precise synchronous movement will be obtained and also the clip band 39 will be moved through roller 50 at the same synchronous speed.

The lower belt 4 (FIG. 6) of the conveying device 2 is expediently provided with spacer means 86 so that the neck of the bag will not be completely compressed but will remain partially open for the evacuation of the bag. The lower belt section 3 is by a rail 12 pressed against the upper section 6 of the lower belt 4.

When applying the prebent clip to the gathered neck of the bag, the prebent clip which is held by its own tension between the jaws 29, 30 is moved over the matrix 81 whereupon the bending ram 27 pushes the prebent clip around the neck 10 of the bag and presses the same into the matrix whereby the clip is formed around the neck of the bag. During the gathering operation, the protruding portion of the bag is compressed by the two conveying belts 3, 4. By holding the protruding portion of the bag between the belts in connection with the gathering to be effected between the arresting line and the material to be filled in, an additional movement of the filling material toward the gathering station will occur whereby a tightly closed wrapping will be obtained.

It is expedient to stack the empty bags intended for receiving the goods at the packing machine in such a way that the bags can be fed automatically. To this end, the bags are provided with a protruding portion which is wider than necessary for the wrapping proper. In the lower marginal area holes are provided by means of which the bags are lined up on bars of the stacking device. This marginal area is to be removed prior to the gathering of the protruding portion of the bag. To this end and in conformity with the invention, a cutting device is provided which in feeding direction is located behind a device, for instance a blow nozzle, for the smoothing out of the protruding portion of the bag. This arrangement is particularly expedient because the protruding portion of the bag will in view of the smoothing out lie flat whereby the cutting off step will be facilitated.

The device according to the present invention, which may also be provided as built-in device in a wrapping line, may also be designed in a manner different from the manner set forth above. For instance, the supporting part 11 for the filled portions of the bags 8 may be omitted inasmuch as the support of the filled portions of the bags 8 may also be provided on another device or machine, for instance, on a machine handling hoseshaped bags. Important in connection with the subject matter of the present invention is the conveying device 2 for conveying the necks 10 of the bags 8 through the gathering zone.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the particular showing in the drawings but also comprises any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for first gathering the necks of bags and for then applying bendable closure members thereto comprising: a frame, conveying means in the frame for advancing the bags sequentially along a path and with the necks thereof exposed, gathering means in the frame along said path engageable with the said exposed necks and operable for gathering the said necks during movement of the bags by said conveying means, feed means in the frame for feeding a closure member to be applied to the said gathered neck of the leading bag, and a device in the frame adapted for receiving the closure member from said feed means and operable for first bending said closure member to a C shape and for then applying it to the said gathered neck of the leading bag and for then clenching the closure member about the said neck, said device being movable along said path with the bag to which the closure member is being applied.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said device includes a support member, and support means supporting the support member on said frame for movement of the support member bodily in a circular path while remaining in parallelism with itself, said circular path being disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which said bags are moved by said conveying means.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said feed means comprises a feed mouth through which a strip of closure member material is fed substantially in the direction of movement of said bags, said feed mouth comprising one blade of a cut off shear for cutting off said strip, said device comprising a bending mouth in the form of a pair of bars perpendicular to the plane of movement of said bags and spaced in the direction of bag movement and the other blade of said cut off shear comprising an edge formed on one of said bars, said support member during movement thereof in said frame moving said pair of bars downwardly past said feed means to cause said blades to move closely past each other and cooperate in cutting off the strip fed through said feed mouth.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 which includes a bending nose adapted to be received in the space between said bars, a lever connected to said bending nose and extending upwardly therefrom pivoted in said frame for movement parallel to the plane of movement of said support member and also perpendicular thereto, said feed means feeding said strip beneath said bars during downward movement thereof, said lever being moved to locate said bending nose in a position beneath the space between said bars and under said strip prior to cutting off of said strip and while said bars are moving downwardly whereby during further downward movement of said bars said bending nose will draw said closure member upwardly into the space between said bars and bend the closure member to a downwardly opening C shape, said lever thereafter being moveable to withdraw said bending nose from between said bars and to return said bending nose to the initial position thereof.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 which includes a drum cam rotatable in said frame and engaging said lever to move the lever to position the said bending nose beneath said bars, and a spring acting on the lever to move the lever to withdraw said nose from beneath said bars and position the nose out of the plane of movement of said support member.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 which includes a bending ram reciprocable on said support member between said bars from above, said ram in retracted position forming the bottom wall of said bending mouth, a rotary peripheral cam at the upper end of said ram for actuating the ram, said peripheral cam and drum cam being mounted on a common shaft and rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said support member.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which said bending ram is moved downwardly by said peripheral cam to push the closure member from the bending mouth and on the neck of a bag, and a bending matrix beneath said neck operable to engage the ends of the legs of said closure member and clench it about the bag neck.

8. [tin apparatus according to claim 7 which includes an arm supporting said matrix and moveable with the bag being operated.

9. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said feeding means comprises a channel along which the strips of material extends, a drive roller extending into the channel and engaging one side of said strip, said drive roller being driven in rotation together with said support member, a clamp roller extending into said channel opposite said drive roller, and means for moving said clamp roller toward and away from said drive roller for respectively driving and releasing said strip.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said gathering means includes at least one gatheringmember moveable in a closed path is a planeperpendicular to the plane of movement of the bags and on the opposite side thereof from said support member, said gathering member moving along the path of movement of the neck of said bags at a speed greater than the speed of movement of said bags.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 which includes an endless flexible drive element running in the plane of movement of said gathering member and pivotally connected to said gathering member, said gathering member comprising an upstanding leading side for engagement with the bag necks and a trailing portion, a cam, and a cam follower on said trailing portion engaging said cam and controlling the movement of said gathering member about the pivotal connection thereof with said flexible drive element.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 in which said gathering means includes a counter member having a side facing the leading side of said gathering member, and means to cause said counter member to move with a bag and to retract from the path thereof after the application of a closure member to the neck of the bag.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11 in which said gathering means includes a counter member having a side facing the leading side of said gathering member,

a two armed lever pivotally supported at the juncture of said arms and having an upstanding arm which at the top is connected to said counter member, a cam follower on the other arm of said lever, and a cam engaging said follower to tilt said lever, and means to cause said counter member to move with a bag and to retract from the path thereof after the applicatignof a closure member to the neck of the bag.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 in which said counter member is pivotally mounted on the top of said one arm of said lever and is resiliently biased thereon toward a predetermined position.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 in which said counter member comprises spaced jaw elements, and a bending matrix pivotally mounted between said jaw elements and operable to clench said closure member about the neck of a bag positioned over the bending matrix.

16. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said conveying means comprises a pair of belts having opposed reaches between which the necks of the bags extend, at least one of said belts having spacer members distributed therealong on the side facing the other belt.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16 which includes parallel rails adjacent said belts on the side facing the bags and between which the necks of the bags extend, and guiding webs behind the opposed reaches of the belts spring biased toward each other.

18. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes means ahead of the region that the bag necks are gathered for smoothing out the protruding bag portion.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 which includes means for cutting off a portion of the protruding necks of the bags.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes nozzle means for drawing air out of the bags being closed prior to placing the said closure member thereon. 

1. An apparatus for first gathering the necks of bags and for then applying bendable closure members thereto comprising: a frame, conveying means in the frame for advancing the bags sequentially along a path and with the necks thereof exposed, gathering means in the frame along said path engageable with the said exposed necks and operable for gathering the said necks during movement of the bags by said conveying means, feed means in the frame for feeding a closure member to be applied to the said gathered neck of the leading bag, and a device in the frame adapted for receiving the closure member from said feed means and operable for first bending said closure member to a ''''C'''' shape and for then applying it to the said gathered neck of the leading bag and for then clenching the closure member about the said neck, said device being movable along said path with the bag to which the closure member is being applied.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said device includes a support member, and support means supporting the support member on said frame for movement of the support member bodily in a circular path while remaining in parallelism with itself, said circular path being disposed in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane in which said bags are moved by said conveying means.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said feed means comprises a feed mouth through which a strip of closure member material is fed substantially in the direction of movement of said bags, said feed mouth comprising one blade of a cut off shear for cutting off said strip, said device comprising a bending mouth in the form of a pair of bars perpendicular to the plane of movement of said bags and spaced in the direction of bag movement and the other blade of said cut off shear comprising an edge formed on one of said bars, said support member during movement thereof in said frame moving said pair of bars downwardly past said feed means to cause said blades to move closely past each other and cooperate in cutting off the strip fed through said feed mouth.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 which includes a bending nose adapted to be received in the space between said bars, a lever connected to said bending nose and extending upwardly therefrom pivoted in said frame for movement parallel to the plane of movement of said support member and also perpendicular thereto, said feed means feeding said strip beneath said bars during downward movement thereof, said lever being moved to locate said bending nose in a position beneath the space between said bars and under said strip prior to cutting off of said strip and while said bars are moving downwardly whereby during further downward movement of said bars said bending nose will draw said closure member upwardly into the space between said bars and bend the closure member to a downwardly opening ''''C'''' shape, said lever thereafter being moveable to withdraw said bending nose from between said bars and to return said bending nose to the initial position thereof.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 4 which includes a drum cam rotatable in said frame and engaging said lever to move the lever to position the said bending nose beneath said bars, and a spring acting on the lever to move the lever to withdraw said nose from beneath said bars and position the nose out of the plane of movement of said support member.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 4 which includes a bending ram reciprocable on said support member between said bars from above, said ram in retracted position forming the bottom wall of said bending mouth, a rotary peripheral cam at the upper end of said ram for actuating the ram, said peripheral cam and drum cam beinG mounted on a common shaft and rotating in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of said support member.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which said bending ram is moved downwardly by said peripheral cam to push the closure member from the bending mouth and on the neck of a bag, and a bending matrix beneath said neck operable to engage the ends of the legs of said closure member and clench it about the bag neck.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7 which includes an arm supporting said matrix and moveable with the bag being operated.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which said feeding means comprises a channel along which the strips of material extends, a drive roller extending into the channel and engaging one side of said strip, said drive roller being driven in rotation together with said support member, a clamp roller extending into said channel opposite said drive roller, and means for moving said clamp roller toward and away from said drive roller for respectively driving and releasing said strip.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said gathering means includes at least one gathering member moveable in a closed path is a plane perpendicular to the plane of movement of the bags and on the opposite side thereof from said support member, said gathering member moving along the path of movement of the neck of said bags at a speed greater than the speed of movement of said bags.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 10 which includes an endless flexible drive element running in the plane of movement of said gathering member and pivotally connected to said gathering member, said gathering member comprising an upstanding leading side for engagement with the bag necks and a trailing portion, a cam, and a cam follower on said trailing portion engaging said cam and controlling the movement of said gathering member about the pivotal connection thereof with said flexible drive element.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 11 in which said gathering means includes a counter member having a side facing the leading side of said gathering member, and means to cause said counter member to move with a bag and to retract from the path thereof after the application of a closure member to the neck of the bag.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 11 in which said gathering means includes a counter member having a side facing the leading side of said gathering member, a two armed lever pivotally supported at the juncture of said arms and having an upstanding arm which at the top is connected to said counter member, a cam follower on the other arm of said lever, and a cam engaging said follower to tilt said lever, and means to cause said counter member to move with a bag and to retract from the path thereof after the application of a closure member to the neck of the bag.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 in which said counter member is pivotally mounted on the top of said one arm of said lever and is resiliently biased thereon toward a predetermined position.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 14 in which said counter member comprises spaced jaw elements, and a bending matrix pivotally mounted between said jaw elements and operable to clench said closure member about the neck of a bag positioned over the bending matrix.
 16. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said conveying means comprises a pair of belts having opposed reaches between which the necks of the bags extend, at least one of said belts having spacer members distributed therealong on the side facing the other belt.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 16 which includes parallel rails adjacent said belts on the side facing the bags and between which the necks of the bags extend, and guiding webs behind the opposed reaches of the belts spring biased toward each other.
 18. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes means ahead of the region that the bag necks are gathered for smoothing out the protruding bag portion.
 19. An apparatus accOrding to claim 18 which includes means for cutting off a portion of the protruding necks of the bags.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes nozzle means for drawing air out of the bags being closed prior to placing the said closure member thereon. 